President Thabo Mbeki to Lead South African Delegation to the 23rd Conference of Head of States and Government of Africa and France (Franco-Africa Summit) Bamako, Mali Saturday, 3 - Sunday, 4 December 2005.

Bamako - South African President Thabo Mbeki, accompanied by Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will today Saturday 3 December 2005 lead the South African delegation to the 23rd Conference of Heads of State and Government of Africa and France (Franco-Africa Summit) in Bamako, Mali.

Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma led the South African delegation to the Ministerial meeting ahead of the Summit on Thursday, 1 December 2005. The Ministerial meeting was led by the Foreign Ministers of Mali and France, Moctar Ouane and Philippe Douste-Blazy respectively.

The 23rd Franco-Africa Summit is held under the banner, "African Youth: its vitality, its creativity, its aspirations."

In this regard, the Summit will focus on the following issues:

· Sociopolitical and economic integration of the youth into Africa's developmental process;
· The return of African skills to Africa;
· African youth faced with major health challenges;
· Training and employment;
· Migratory phenomena as integration factors;
· Vitality and creativity of African youth; and the
· Role of African youth in the promotion of Africa's image, cultural diversity, art and culture.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853
Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Tshwane
0001
3 December 2005